What is Proposition 480? Northern Arizona Healthcare 'disappointed' as Flagstaff voters reject $800M hospital plan
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA: Voters have reportedly rejected Proposition 480, a significant measure that would have allowed Northern Arizona Healthcare to construct a new hospital complex in Flagstaff.
The proposition, which was on the ballot for the city of Flagstaff, reportedly failed by a wide margin of 72% in the mail-in election, per KNAU.
Had it been approved, the proposition would have facilitated the rezoning of approximately 100 acres in the southern part of Flagstaff.
What is the significance of Proposition 480?
Proposition 480 was a ballot measure in Flagstaff, Arizona. Had it been successful, it would have led to the rezoning of nearly 100 acres of untouched land in the southern part of Flagstaff, paving the way for establishing a new hospital worth $800 million.
The proposition was linked to Northern Arizona Healthcare’s proposal to build a substantial new hospital complex at Ft. Tuthill, as reported by KNAU.
Opponents of the plan expressed worries that it would escalate healthcare expenses and believed that the public was not sufficiently involved in the project’s initial approval.
What is the impact of the rejection?
The rejection of Proposition 480 overturns the Flagstaff City Council’s approval of the necessary rezoning for the hospital complex.
Critics of the plan expressed concerns that it would drive up healthcare costs and felt that the public did not have enough involvement in the project's initial approval.
"This referendum showed that the people in Flagstaff really care about their community and they want to have a meaningful voice. Outcomes are only as good as the process that preceded it, and this is a perfect example of the process not working," expressed Celia Barotz, an ex-city council member and a supporter of the ‘No’ campaign for Prop 480, per KNAU.
What did Northern Arizona Healthcare say?
Shortly after the initial results were announced, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) expressed their disappointment in a statement to 12News.
The statement highlighted that without the necessary zoning change, NAH will be unable to construct a new hospital at the proposed location, nor can they continue with the renovation of the Flagstaff Medical Center.
The statement further emphasized the pressing need for a new hospital, citing the rapidly growing population and the evolving standards of medical care.
"It is imperative that we expand, as FMC already is out of space for adult patients many days, which leads to long wait times in the Emergency Department and local patients transported to Phoenix hospitals," the statement read.
Mike Martinell, an erstwhile board member of NAH, who believed that the scale of the project from the outset was a matter of concern for many, stated that this has been a 'hotly contested topic."
NAH has announced that they will commence the assessment of different locations for the establishment of a new hospital.